Make Your Own Lavender Infused Oil

Lavender is not just a beautiful and fragrant flower; it also has a multitude of health and wellness benefits. One popular way to enjoy these benefits is by creating lavender infused oil. Whether you want to use it for aromatherapy, skincare, or hair care, making lavender infused oil at home is a rewarding and simple DIY project. In this article, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of making lavender infused oil, exploring its uses, benefits, and storage tips along the way.

What is an herbal infused oil?

An herbal infused oil is a versatile natural product created by infusing a carrier oil with various dried herbs, flowers, or plants. This process involves gently heating the oil to allow the beneficial properties of the herbs to be extracted and absorbed. Once the infusion is complete, the oil is typically strained to remove the plant material, resulting in a fragrant and potent oil rich in the essence of the herbs used. Herbal infused oils are commonly used in natural skincare, aromatherapy, and culinary applications due to their unique therapeutic properties. Depending on the herbs selected, these oils can offer a range of benefits such as moisturizing, soothing, or invigorating effects when incorporated into various products or used on their own. The versatility and natural origins of herbal infused oils make them a popular choice for individuals seeking plant-based solutions for wellness and self-care.

Some benefits of lavender infused oil:

1. Relaxation and Stress Relief: Lavender is renowned for its calming properties, making lavender infused oil an excellent choice for aromatherapy and relaxation.

2. Skincare: Lavender oil possesses antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which can help soothe and nourish the skin. It's often used to treat acne, eczema, and minor burns.

3. Hair Care: Lavender oil is believed to promote hair growth and improve scalp health. Incorporating it into your hair care routine can leave your locks feeling soft, shiny, and rejuvenated.

4. Pain Relief: When massaged onto sore muscles or joints, lavender infused oil can provide relief from pain and inflammation.

5. Sleep Aid: Diffusing lavender oil or applying lavender infused oil to your pulse points before bedtime can promote relaxation and improve sleep quality.

6. May Support Allergies: Lavender helps soothe symptoms during allergy season thanks to its ability to calm and reduce inflammation. It has been studied to reduce allergic inflammation as well as the enlargement of mucous cells. (1) (2)

7. Soothes headaches: Lavender also has been studied to soothe headaches and tension related to stress and anxiety. In one study of 129 headache attacks, 92 responded entirely or partially to lavender. (3)

Making your own Lavender Infused Oil

I love using this lavender infused herbal oil in my salves, body butters, and lip balm recipes. It is amazing alone to soothe irritated skin, in a massage oil to ease muscle tension or added to a warm foot or body bath to nourish the mind and body. Lavender contains anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in healing irritated skin. Not to mention it smells incredible!

Ingredients and Supplies:

To make lavender infused oil, you'll need:

• Dried lavender flowers: You can either purchase dried lavender flowers or harvest them from your garden. Make sure they are pesticide-free and thoroughly dried to prevent mold growth.

• Carrier oil: Choose a high-quality carrier oil such as jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or olive oil. The carrier oil will be infused with the aroma and properties of the lavender flowers.

• Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid: Opt for a clean, sterilized glass jar to store your infused oil. Avoid using plastic containers, as they can interact with the oil and compromise its quality.

• Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer: You'll need this to strain the lavender flowers from the oil once the infusion process is complete.

• Dark glass bottles: To store the finished infused oil and protect it from light degradation.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Lavender Infused Oil:

1. Prepare the Lavender Flowers: Start by crushing the dried lavender flowers gently with your hands or a mortar and pestle. This will help release their aromatic oils and enhance the infusion process.

2. Combine the Ingredients: Place the crushed lavender flowers in the glass jar and cover them with the carrier oil of your choice. Ensure that the flowers are completely submerged in the oil.

3. Infusion Process: Seal the jar tightly with the lid and place it in a cool, dark place to infuse. Allow the lavender flowers to steep in the oil for at least 2-4 weeks, shaking the jar gently every few days to agitate the mixture.

4. Strain the Oil: After the infusion period is complete, strain the lavender flowers from the oil using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Squeeze the cloth to extract as much oil as possible.

5. Bottle and Store: Transfer the strained lavender infused oil into dark glass bottles for storage. Dark glass helps protect the oil from light exposure, which can cause it to degrade over time. Store the bottles in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Lavender Infused Oil

Author: Holly Brandenberger

Ingredients

• 4 Oz dried lavender flowers
• 16 Oz extra virgin olive oil
• Glass quart sized mason jar
• Cheesecloth to strain oil

Instructions

1. Fill quart sized mason jar with lavender flowers.
2. Pour extra virgin olive oil over the lavender flowers. Cap and shake gently.
3. Leave jar in cool, dry place for 3 weeks.
4. Once lavender has infused, strain the flowers from the oil with cheesecloth over strainer and clean mason jar for storage.

Notes

*Use within 1 year or store in refrigerator to extend shelf life.

A few ways to use Lavender Infused Oil:

Once you've made your lavender infused oil, there are countless ways to incorporate it into your daily routine:

• Massage oil: Use lavender infused oil as a luxurious massage oil to relax the body and soothe sore muscles.

• Skincare: Apply a few drops of lavender infused oil to your skin to moisturize, soothe irritation, and promote a healthy complexion. Lavender infused oil may also be helpful to soothe bug bites, minor sunburn or skin irritation.

• Hair treatment: Massage lavender infused oil into your scalp and hair to nourish and strengthen strands, or add a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner for an aromatic boost.

• Aromatherapy: Apply a few drops to skin when feeling anxious or to a warm bath for a calming and rejuvenating experience.

• Sleep aid: Rub a small amount of lavender oil onto your pulse points before bedtime to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality.

• Aromatherapy products: Lavender infused oil is a great addition to aromatherapy products such as salves, lotions, creams, body butters, soaps and more!

Storage Tips:

Here are some tips to ensure the longevity and potency of your lavender infused oil:

• Keep it in a cool, dark place: Exposure to light and heat can cause the oil to degrade and lose its potency. Store it in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry.

• Use dark glass bottles: Opt for dark glass bottles to protect the oil from light exposure. Amber or cobalt blue bottles are excellent choices.

• Check for signs of rancidity: Over time, oils can become rancid, developing a stale or off-putting odor. If your infused oil smells unpleasant or has changed color, it's time to discard it and make a fresh batch. The shelf life of lavender infused oil is generally 1 year.

Making lavender infused oil at home is a simple and rewarding project that allows you to enjoy the therapeutic properties of this versatile herb. Whether you use it for relaxation, skincare, or hair care, lavender infused oil is sure to become a staple in your self-care routine.

Want to make some more easy DIY aromatherapy recipes? Check out my book Science of Essentials Best Recipes: The Ultimate Guide for Essential Oil Recipes for Your Mind, Body and Home. This book is filled with over 150 of my all-time favorite essential oil recipes.

References:

1. Ueno-Iio T, Shibakura M, Yokota K, Aoe M, Hyoda T, Shinohata R, Kanehiro A, Tanimoto M, Kataoka M. Lavender essential oil inhalation suppresses allergic airway inflammation and mucous cell hyperplasia in a murine model of asthma. Life Sci. 2014 Jul 17;108(2):109-15.

2. Koulivand PH, Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A. Lavender and the nervous system. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:681304.

3. Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, Gorji A, Abbasi M, Foroughipour M. Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur Neurol. 2012;67(5):288-91.

Disclaimer: This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user's own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.